You know that exercise burns calories. The more you exercise, the more calories you burn. A pound is “3,500” calories. So for every “3,500” calories you burn, you lose a pound. Initially, when you begin exercising you may see the weight fall off. This is because you’re burning fat stores. If you add strength training to your workouts, you’ll also burn more calories throughout your day because your muscles need extra calories to repair themselves.

The great news is that all exercise burns calories. True, some burn more than others. You’ll burn more calories if you go cross-country skiing than if you play a game of golf. However, the bottom line is that you’re burning calories and moving your body. Do that every day and you’ll lose weight and control weight gain.

An Example of a Simple Weight Loss Exercise…

• Let’s talk about walking for exercise:

If you haven’t exercised in a while, or ever, walking is a great place to start. You know you can walk. It’s an exercise that allows you the confidence to start. As you begin to improve your health and fitness you can add exercises to your routine or increase your fitness walking goals.

An hour of walking each day, at a four mile per hour pace (15 minute miles) burns between 250 and 300 calories. Just this and you’d lose a pound every 14 days. That’s two pounds or more a month and all you have to do is walk.

If your goal is to lose weight or maintain your weight, don’t exercise hungry or you might eat more after the workout than you burned. Maintain your caloric intake so you’re able to burn more than you consume.